“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness…”
In summing up, Paul comes to important conclusions in verses 20 through 23.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom stand as polar opposites. God’s infinite wisdom so transcends human wisdom that human wisdom is “foolishness.”
For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness…”
Paul quotes from Job 5:13 in this verse and from Psalm 94:11 in verse 20. Both quotes show, from the authority of God’s Word, the foolishness of man’s wisdom.
The word “catches” denotes grasp or grip. God has a firm grasp on what is foolishness and what is not. He understands” craftiness.” The emptiness of human wisdom is vanity from the viewpoint of utility. The very wisdom men use is the trap that catches them in a snare.
PRINCIPLE:
Human wisdom is a trap that will catch people in a snare of incomplete, finite wisdom.
APPLICATION:
Men without the Word of God are caught in a vicious cycle. They cannot believe in God’s Word because they hold dearly to another belief. Until they let go of human belief systems, they cannot believe in God.
